References and further reading
2026 digital edition · Dr Naeem Aziz DGM FRCP · 7 min read
Public policy, contractual and professional resources supporting the handbook. Source identifiers correspond to the references in the chapters. Online guidance may change; use the current document and confirm its applicability to the role, nation and employment contract. This edition reflects sources considered in October 2026.
S01 | General Medical Council | Specialty associate specialist specialist and locally employed doctors survey 2026 | 2026. Survey findings on SAS and locally employed doctors. Reported experience or eligibility is distinct from an individual assessment.
S02 | General Medical Council | Portfolio pathway application | Application guidance for specialist and GP registration through the Portfolio Pathway. Consult the current specialty-specific requirements.
S03 | Department of Health Northern Ireland | Generic Capabilities Framework for the new Specialist grade | 2021 resource collection. Specialist grade framework, numbered capabilities 1.1 to 6.5. Confirm the version applicable to the post.
S04 | General Medical Council | Generic professional capabilities framework | Framework published 2017. The GMC educational framework is distinct from the six-domain Specialist grade framework.
S05 | British Medical Association | Autonomy of SAS grade | Updated 20 August 2025. Sections on autonomous practice, requesting autonomy and inadequate supervision.
S06 | Department of Health and Social Care through UK Parliament | Written question 121641 Doctors Career Development | Answered 25 March 2026. Ministerial statement on recruitment and regrading in England; read alongside subsequent policy developments.
S07 | NHS Employers | Designing recruiting and embedding specialist roles | 7 October 2026. Further reading on workforce need, post design and recruitment in England.
S08 | Welsh Partnership Forum Medical and Dental Business Group | Policy for the Management of Specialty to Specialist Career progression Regrading | Approved May 2025. Sections 3 to 7 cover eligibility, assessment, outcomes and appeal arrangements in Wales.
S09 | NHS Wales Employers through The NHS Alliance | Specialty Specialist and Associate Specialist SAS Doctors Wales | Dated 9 August 2025. Resource page linking Welsh progression guidance and terms and conditions.
S10 | Scottish Government | PCS DD 2025 02 Policy for Career Progression Regrading | Issued 2 December 2025. Annex A sections 4 to 7 and Annex C evidence template. Primary policy for the Scottish regrading route.
S11 | British Medical Association | How specialty doctors can be regraded to specialists in NHS Scotland | Professional guidance on the Scottish policy, including application and outcome arrangements. Use the operative policy for formal requirements.
S12 | Department of Health Northern Ireland | SAS 2021 Contract documentation and guidance | Published 20 July 2021; resource page updated 24 August 2023. Contract, capability framework and appointment documents.
S13 | Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency | SAS Career Development Programme | Further reading on SAS career development in Northern Ireland.
S14 | Department of Health Northern Ireland | Specialist grade template person specification | 2021 resource collection. Instructions and capability requirements for Specialist appointments; read with the relevant post specification.
S15 | Academy of Medical Royal Colleges | Autonomous Practice of SAS Doctors | Professional guidance on autonomous practice and governance. Apply within the relevant service and employment arrangements.
S16 | Royal College of Anaesthetists | Autonomy for SAS doctors and guidance on progression | Specialty-specific guidance for anaesthesia. Operational details should be applied within that specialty context.
S17 | BMA and NHS Employers | A UK guide to job planning for specialty doctors and associate specialists | 2012. Guidance on the principles and process of job planning. Current contractual terms take precedence.
S18 | British Medical Association | Supporting professional activities time for SAS doctors | Professional advice on SPA time. Distinguish contractual provisions, recommendations and individual job-plan agreement.
S19 | Royal College of Physicians | Educational and career support for SAS doctors guidance for doctors and employers | 2024. Guidance for doctors and employers on access to development and wider professional roles.
S20 | Health Research Authority | Research decision tool glossary | Definitions relevant to clinical audit, service evaluation and research. Use alongside local governance advice.
S21 | Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership | Best Practice in Clinical Audit | 14 May 2020. Guidance and resources on clinical audit practice.
S22 | Institute for Healthcare Improvement | Model for Improvement | Guidance on aims, measures, change ideas and iterative testing.
S23 | Health Research Authority and Medical Research Council | Is my study research | Decision support for classifying a proposed activity. Local governance requirements still apply.
S24 | General Medical Council | Promoting excellence | Standards for the management and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.
S25 | General Medical Council | Criteria for recognising and approving trainers | Criteria for recognised trainer roles. Confirm the requirements for the particular role with the responsible education body.
S26 | General Medical Council | Good medical practice | Effective January 2024; updated December 2024. Professional standards for medical practice.
S27 | General Medical Council | Guidance on supporting information for appraisal and revalidation | Guidance on supporting information for appraisal and revalidation. These purposes remain distinct from employment-grade assessment.
S28 | General Medical Council | Confidentiality disclosing information for education and training purposes | Effective April 2017; updated December 2024. Principles for educational use of information, including anonymised information.
S29 | Information Commissioner’s Office | Introduction to anonymisation | Guidance on identifiability, anonymisation and pseudonymisation.
S30 | General Medical Council | Guidance on anonymising reflective notes | Guidance on protecting confidentiality in reflective notes. Keep reflection distinct from the clinical record.
S31 | Royal College of Surgeons of England | SAS careers | Further reading on SAS careers in surgery. Use national policy and contract documents for progression requirements.
S32 | British Medical Association | The 2021 specialist grade explained | Guidance on the Specialist grade and recruitment, in an England context. Separate national regrading policies apply in Wales and Scotland.
S33 | Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency | Specialist grade | Further reading on the Specialist grade in Northern Ireland. Confirm appointment requirements with the employer and operative documents.
S34 | NHS Employers | Specialist grade role | Further reading on the Specialist role, capability framework and person specification in England.
S35 | NHS Wales Employers | Terms and Conditions of Service Specialty Doctors Wales | 2024 edition. Schedule 4 paragraphs 1 to 7 and footnote 3 address job planning and supporting professional activities.
S36 | NHS Wales Employers | Terms and Conditions of Service Specialist Doctors Wales | 2024 edition. Schedule 4 paragraphs 1 to 7 and footnote 3 address job planning and supporting professional activities.
S37 | General Medical Council | The Specialist Register | Current register guidance, including the foundation trust exception and practice in specialties not listed in a register entry. Accessed 20 October 2026.
S38 | Care Quality Commission | Regulation 12 Safe care and treatment | England. Regulation 12(2)(c) and accompanying guidance on qualifications, competence, skills and experience. Accessed 20 October 2026.
S39 | Care Quality Commission | Regulation 18 Staffing | England. Staffing, development and support appropriate to responsibilities. Accessed 20 October 2026.
S40 | Royal College of Physicians | Writing SAS job descriptions Guidance for NHS employers | September 2026. Read role descriptions alongside the relevant national appointment conditions and GMC guidance.
S41 | Royal College of Physicians | Advisory Appointments Committees | Current AAC role and the 2026 change to job-description guidance. The page contains legacy wording; read eligibility statements alongside current GMC guidance. Accessed 20 October 2026.
S42 | Royal College of Physicians | Empowering physicians Effective job planning for better patient care | 2025. Pages 3 to 4 and 11 to 12 address readership, professional balance and team job planning. Its defined specialist group includes Associate Specialists.
S43 | General Medical Council | Leadership and management for all doctors | Professional guidance on leadership and management responsibilities. Apply to the responsibilities of the actual role.